A diplomat, leader, and educator, Ambassador (retired) Joan Polaschik served for 31 years as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. As Director of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) from 2022 until 2025, Ambassador Polaschik created and led a multi-year reform plan that maximized the impact and reach of the U.S. government’s diplomatic training academy. She also served as Dean and Deputy Director of the Foreign Service Institute from 2020 until 2022, a deep dive into diplomatic training that informed her approach to learner-driven reform.

Ambassador Polaschik’s diplomatic career focused on the Middle East and North Africa, with assignments as U.S. Ambassador to Algeria, Deputy Chief of Mission in Libya, and Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, among others. She has deep expertise in fragile states, conflict resolution, crisis leadership, and risk management, along with a proven record of strengthening institutions, developing leaders, and inspiring teams.

Ambassador Polaschik is passionate about education. She served as a senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy (2019-2020) and will teach diplomatic tradecraft at American University in Spring 2026. She volunteers as an adult English as a Second Language teacher for recently arrived refugees and immigrants.

Ambassador Polaschik holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Georgetown University. She speaks French and some Arabic.